Pastors Jim and Marie Watt
(From: MATTHEW #37 - 23:1-13)
G. 23:1-39 A SCATHING DENUNCIATION OF JEWRY
1. 23:1-12 RULERS ARE FELLOW-SERVANTS UNDER ONE LORD
a. 23:1-3 JESUS CLARIFIES HOW WE ARE TO RESPOND TO LEADERS
TOte ho IeSOUS eLAle-sen tois OCHlois kai tois ma-theTAIS auTOU, LEgon,
Then :Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his :disciples, 2 saying,
E-PI tes Mo-uSEos kaTHEdras eKAthi-san hoi gram-maTEIS kai hoi Pha-riSAIoi:
The scribes and the Pharisees sit on the seat of Moses:
PANta oun HOsa eAN EIpo-sin huMIN, poiEsa-te kai teREIte [5083]:
3all things therefore whatever they tell you, do and keep:
kaTA de ta ERga auTON mepoiEIte; LEgou-sin gar, kai ou poiOUsin.
but do not after their :works; for they say, and do not.
b. 23:4 THEIR HYPOCRISY
desMEUou-sin [1195] de phorTIa [5413] baREa kai e-pi-tiTHEa-sin [2007] ePI tous Omous ton anTHROpon;
Yes, they bind heavy burdens and lay themon the :shoulders of men;
auTOI de todakTUlo [1147]auTON ou THElou-sin kiNEsai auTA.
but themselves will not to move them with their :finger.
c. 23:5-7 THEIR LUST FOR PROMINENCE
PANta de ta ERga auTON poiOUsin pros to the-aTHEnai tois anTHROpois:
But all their :works they do to be seen of :men:
plaTUnou-si [4115] gar ta phu-lakTEri-a [5440]auTON, kai me-gaLUnou-si [3170]ta KRAspe-da [1899],
for they broaden their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
phiLOUsi de ten pro-to-kliSIan [4411]en tois DEIPnois [1173], kai tas pro-to-ka-theDRIas [4410]
6and love the chief place at the feasts, and the chief seats
en tais su-na-goGAIS, kai tous a-spasMOUS [783]en tais a-goRAIS [58],
in the synagogues, 7and the salutations in the markets,
kai kaLEISthai huPO ton anTHROpon, 'RabBEI [4461].
and to be called of :men, Rabbei.
d. 23:8 OUR RELATION TO CHRIST AND TO EACH OTHER
huMEIS de mekleTHEte 'RabBEI:
But be not you called Rabbei:
heis GAR es-tin huMON ho diDAska-los, PANtes de huMEIS a-delPHOI es-tin.
for one is your :teacher, and all you are brethren.
e. 23:9 And call no one your father on the earth: for one is your :Father, the heavenly one.
kai paTEra mekaLEse-te huMON ePI tes ges: heis GAR es-tin huMON ho paTER, ho ouRAni-os.
f. 23:10 Neither be called masters: for one is your master, the Christ.
meDE kleTHEte ka-theTAI: HOti ka-the-geTES huMON esTIN heis, ho ChrisTOS.
g. 23:11 But the greater among you shall be your minister.
ho de MEIzon huMON EStai huMON diAko-nos [1249].
h. 23:12 And whoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whoever shall humble himselfshall be exalted.
HOstis de huPSOsei [5312] he-auTON ta-pei-noTHEse-tai; kai HOstis ta-peiNOsei he-auTON hu-psoTHEse-tai.
NOTE: Jesus fully exposes the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders: the scribes and Pharisees. They, like present day leaders, give orders for others, but exclude themselves from their own rules and traditions. They love prominence, and chief positions. They look down on the people as ignorant, and requiring total direction from leaders. Does Jesus agree? Absolutely not! Hisdisciples are notto arrogantly arrogate upon themselves such titles and honors. Jesus sets Himself as the example for all leaders, as having come to be a servant of all. J.A.W.